2015 ILP Moneyfacts award winners announced

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The winners of the 2015 Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts Awards were announced last night at a ceremony held at the Lancaster London Hotel, amid much expectation and excitement.

Over 400 professionals from leading financial institutions and industry bodies gathered at the event, hosted by comedian Tim Vine. A total of 41 awards were presented to deserving winners during the night, with the awards recognising those companies and individual who have consistently delivered premium products, service and innovation in the last 12 months.

The results drew on both the analytical expertise of the ILP Moneyfacts research team and the opinions of the magazine's advisory readership, with feedback invited throughout the decision-making process. This gives a true measure of industry-wide excellence and allows the winners to display their trophies with pride, highlighting those who truly excel in their field.

Canada Life stole the show, winning three awards ( Best Group Protection Provider, Best Tax and Estate Planning Solutions Provider and Service Beyond the Call of Duty) and coming highly commended in two others, while Aviva, Prudential, LV=, Zurich, Royal London and Investec also cleaned up with two awards each and several other commendations. Plenty of lesser-known names made it into the mix, too, highlighting how quickly the pensions landscape is evolving.

Richard Eagling, editor of Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts, said: "In an industry that is often unappreciated, the quality of the products and services offered by the winners at this year's Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts Awards demonstrate that there is much to admire and be positive about. Competition for each of the categories has been intense and the signs are that many product providers have made even greater strides to stand out from the crowd over the past year."

Below is a full list of the winners in each category – if you're in the market for pensions advice or products, they could be worth making a beeline for. All that's left to say is congratulations to everyone who made the cut, and good luck for next year!

Best Investment Service

Winner: Prudential

Highly Commended: Seven Investment Management

Commended: Old Mutual Wealth

Best Protection Service

Winner: Zurich

Highly Commended: Legal & General

Commended: Aviva

Best Healthcare Service

Winner: AXA PPP healthcare

Highly Commended: Westfield Health

Commended: Vitality Health

Best Pension Service

Winner: LV=

Highly Commended: Royal London

Commended: Prudential

Best Annuity Service

Winner: Partnership

Highly Commended: Just Retirement

Commended: LV =

Best Structured Product Service

Winner: Investec Structured products

Highly Commended: Meteor Asset Management

Commended: Societe Generale

Best Online Service

Winner: Transact

Highly Commended: True Potential

Commended: AXA Elevate

Service Beyond the Call of Duty

Winner: Canada Life

Highly Commended: InvestAcc

Commended: Cirencester Friendly

Innovation Award

Winner: Cirencester Friendly (My Earnings Insurance)

Highly Commended: AXA Life Invest (Protect 75)

Commended: True Potential (Impulse Save)

Retirement Adviser of the Year

Winner: LIFT-Financial

Highly Commended: FOCUS Oxford LLP

Commended: LEBC The Retirement Adviser

Best Personal Pension Provider

Winner: Aviva

Highly Commended: Royal London

Commended: Prudential

Best SIPP Provider

Winner: Suffolk Life

Highly Commended: AJ Bell

Commended: James Hay Partnership

Best SSAS Provider

Winner: Rowanmoor Group plc

Highly Commended: Barnett Waddingham

Commended: InvestAcc

Best Group Pension Provider

Winner: Royal London

Highly Commended: The People's Pension

Commended: Scottish Widows

Best Income Drawdown Provider

Winner: Royal London

Highly Commended: Standard Life

Commended: Prudential

Best Enhanced Annuity Provider

Winner: Just Retirement

Highly Commended: Partnership

Commended: Retirement Advantage

Best Third Way Product Provider

Winner: AXA Life Invest

Highly Commended: MetLife

Commended: Aegon

Best Equity Release Provider

Winner: Hodge Lifetime

Highly Commended: Aviva

Commended: Just Retirement

Most Competitive Annuity Provider

Winner: Hodge Lifetime

Highly Commended: Canada Life

Commended: Legal & General

Investment Adviser of the Year

Winner: Strategic Solutions Chartered Financial Planners

Highly Commended: Redbourne Wealth Management

Commended: Donald Wealth Management

Best Stocks & Shares ISA Provider

Winner: Zurich

Highly Commended: M&G Investments

Commended: Prudential

Best Investment Fund Provider

Winner: Old Mutual Global Investors

Highly Commended: Vanguard Asset Management

Commended: Invesco Perpetual

Best Investment Trust Provider

Winner: Witan

Highly Commended: Aberdeen Asset Management

Commended: Baillie Gifford

Best Multi-Manager Provider

Winner: Architas

Highly Commended: Old Mutual Global Investors

Commended: Premier Asset Management

Best Targeted Absolute Return Fund Provider

Winner: Standard Life Investments

Highly Commended: BNY Mellon

Commended: Invesco Perpetual

Best Discretionary Fund Manager

Winner: Seven Investment Management

Highly Commended: Parmenion

Commended: Brooks Macdonald

Best Wrap/Platform

Winner: AXA Elevate

Highly Commended: Transact

Commended: Old Mutual Wealth

Best Structured Products Provider

Winner: Investec Structured Products

Highly Commended: Morgan Stanley

Commended: Reyker

Best Ethical Investment Provider

Winner: EdenTree Investment Management

Highly Commended: Alliance Trust Investments

Commended: Kames Capital

Best Junior ISA Provider

Winner: OneFamily

Highly Commended: Alliance Trust Savings

Commended: Fidelity FundsNetwork

Tax and Estate Planner of the Year

Winner: Rowley Turton (IFA) Ltd

Highly Commended: Common Sense Financial Planning Limited

Commended: Broadway Financial Planning Ltd

Best Investment Bond Provider

Winner: Prudential

Highly Commended: Canada Life

Commended: LV =

Best Tax and Estate Planning Solutions Provider

Winner: Canada Life

Highly Commended: Octopus Investments

Commended: WAY Group

Health Adviser of the Year

Winner: Regency Health

Highly Commended: LEBC – Corporate Healthcare Solutions

Commended: Beckett Financial Services

Best Term Assurance Provider

Winner: AIG Life

Highly Commended: Aviva Commended: Legal & General

Best Income Protection Provider

Winner: LV=

Highly Commended: Cirencester Friendly

Commended: Holloway Friendly

Best Critical Illness Provider

Winner: Scottish Provident

Highly Commended: Legal & General

Commended: VitalityLife

Best Group Protection Provider

Winner: Canada Life

Highly Commended: Unum

Commended: Aviva UK Health

Best Business Protection Provider

Winner: Legal & General

Highly Commended: Zurich

Commended: Bright Grey

Best Private Medical Insurance Provider

Winner: VitalityHealth

Highly Commended: AXA PPP healthcare

Commended: Benenden

Best Health Cash Plan Provider

Winner: Westfield Health

Highly Commended: Simplyhealth

Commended: BHSF

Disclaimer: Information is correct as of the date of publication (shown at the top of this article). Any products featured may be withdrawn by their provider or changed at any time.

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